The chairs of the Senate and House Higher Education Committees -- Sen. Terri Bonoff-DFL-Minnetonka, and Rep. Gene Pelowski-DFL-Winona -- wrote Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles on Wednesday, asking for an independent review of both the university and its governing body, the Minnesota Colleges and University system.

"Given the problematic outcome of these decisions, a thorough analysis and review is appropriate," Bonoff said in a statement Thursday. "What happened? Was our process appropriate? What changes are needed? These questions are best answered by the independent Legislative Auditor."

University President Richard Davenport and MnSCU Chancellor Steven Rosenstone have also requested an external review of the incident. In a letter to the Legislature Wednesday, they noted that privacy laws restrict the amount of information they can make public about the incident.

In a statement, Pelowski said he hoped the audit "will provide us with the information we need to ensure that this never happens again."

From Wabasha to Warroad, from Sleepy Eye to Silver Bay, Dateline Minnesota scours the state to bring you breaking news from outside the Twin Cities.